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  5. 17 New Packable Lunches to Make for Work This Week

17 New Packable Lunches to Make for Work This Week

Leah Goggins headshot
Leah Goggins May 01, 2022
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Cucumber Sandwich
Credit: Photographer / Antonis Achilleos, Prop Stylist / Kay Clarke, Food Stylist / Ruth Blackburn

Don't let yourself fall prey to a disappointing desk lunch. These recipes—from sandwiches and salads to grain bowls and bento boxes—are sure to elevate your usual lunch al desko. Pack a microwaveable rice bowl for days stuck in the chilly office or bring along a cool veggie sandwich that will keep you refreshed as you get some fresh air. Recipes like our Chile-Garlic Salmon Bento Box with Avocado and Cucumber Sandwich are sure to help you power through any day at work.

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Cucumber Sandwich

Cucumber Sandwich
Credit: Photographer / Antonis Achilleos, Prop Stylist / Kay Clarke, Food Stylist / Ruth Blackburn
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This creamy, crunchy cucumber sandwich recipe strikes a lovely balance between decadent and light. The cream cheese-yogurt spread complements the crisp refreshing cucumber while the hearty flavor and texture of the whole-wheat bread holds everything together. Removing the crusts makes it more delicate than your average sandwich.

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Southwest Chopped Salad with Tomatillo Dressing

Southwest Chopped Salad with Tomatillo Dressing
Credit: Leigh Beisch
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Jicama is the crunchy, sweet tuberous root of a legume native to Central America. If you love it in this salad, try including sticks of it with your next crudités spread.

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Sesame Kohlrabi & Chicken Salad

Sesame Kohlrabi & Chicken Salad
Credit: Charlotte & Johnny Autry
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Kohlrabi (a bulbous vegetable related to broccoli and Brussels sprouts but with a milder, sweet flavor) and almonds add crunch to this crowd-pleasing salad. Baked tofu or shrimp can be used instead of the chicken.

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Chile-Garlic Salmon Bento Box with Avocado

Chile-Garlic Salmon Bento Box with Avocado
Credit: Charlotte and Johnny Autry
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Keeping salmon in your freezer means you always have something on hand for dinner, and—bonus!—you can cook it from frozen as we do here.

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Winter Greens Bowl

Winter Greens Bowl
Credit: Ali Redmond
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This one-pan meal packs in lots of plant-based protein and flavor thanks to beans and quinoa, while a creamy lemon-garlic dressing completes the dish. 

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Salmon Rice Bowl

Salmon Rice Bowl
Credit: Ali Redmond
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Inspired by the viral TikTok trend, this tasty bowl makes for a satisfying lunch or dinner. With a handful of healthy ingredients, like instant brown rice, heart-healthy salmon and lots of crunchy veggies, you'll have a filling and flavorful meal in just 25 minutes. Looking to cut down on carbs? Try swapping in riced cauliflower in place of the brown rice.

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Chicken-Quinoa Bowl with Strawberries & Pecans

Chicken-Quinoa Bowl with Strawberries & Pecans
Credit: Charlotte & Johnny Autry
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This simple chicken grain bowl makes a perfect family dinner. Let everyone customize their meal by portioning the greens and grains into bowls, then serving the remaining ingredients buffet-style so eaters can pick and choose what they want to top theirs with.

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Caprese Sandwich

Caprese Sandwich
Credit: Photographer / Jennifer Causey, Food Stylist / Karen Rankin, Prop Stylist / Christine Keely
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This caprese sandwich is fresh from the basil and hearty from thick, crusty ciabatta. The sun-dried tomatoes deepen the flavor. Topping the bread with a layer of basil leaves and using toasted bread helps to keep the sandwich from getting soggy if you need to make it a few hours ahead.

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Easy Chicken Tinga Rice Bowls

Chicken Tinga Rice Bowls
Credit: Jacob Fox
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Leftover chicken tinga, pinto beans and bell peppers combine to make a hearty, flavorful rice bowl. Finish with your favorite toppings like avocado and lime wedges.

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Orange-Mint Freekeh Salad with Lima Beans

Orange-Mint Freekeh Salad with Lima Beans
Credit: Jacob Fox
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This salad is loaded with colorful produce: fresh mint, snap peas, radishes and oranges. For pretty snap pea slices, cut them into long, thin strips.

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Caprese Pasta Salad

Caprese Pasta Salad
Credit: Photographer / Jennifer Causey, Food Stylist / Karen Rankin, Prop Stylist / Christine Keely
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This light and fresh caprese pasta salad is brought together with a bright and tangy dressing, with fresh mozzarella pearls adding creaminess to every bite.

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Chopped Salad with Chicken & Creamy Chipotle Dressing

Chopped Salad with Chicken & Creamy Chipotle Dressing
Credit: Photography / Jennifer Causey, Styling / Melissa Gray / Kay Clarke
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This chopped salad with chicken is smoky and zesty thanks to the creamy chipotle dressing. Cilantro adds a pop of freshness to each bite.

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Lemony Shrimp, Kale & Potato Salad

Lemony Shrimp, Kale & Potato Salad
Credit: Leigh Beisch
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Hearty kale and potatoes put a seasonal spin on a Greek-style salad featuring feta, olives and cherry tomatoes. Russet potatoes absorb flavor like a sponge, making them a great choice for salads with flavorful vinaigrettes like this one.

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Andouille, Sweet Potato & Broccoli Salad with Creole Mustard Dressing

Andouille, Sweet Potato & Broccoli Salad with Creole Mustard Dressing
Credit: Leigh Beisch
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Look to root vegetables for hearty winter salads. Technically a tuber rather than a root, sweet potatoes are a member of the morning glory family. They come in a variety of colors—orange-fleshed ones tend to be sweet and creamy, yellow varieties are drier and purple spuds fall somewhere in between. A drizzle of Creole mustard dressing gives this composed salad zing.

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Waldorf Salad with Chicken & Rutabaga

Waldorf Salad with Chicken & Rutabaga
Credit: Leigh Beisch
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A cross between turnip and cabbage, rutabagas have purple-tinged yellow skin and yellow, slightly sweet flesh. Adding this veg along with chicken to this classic side transforms it into a hearty dinner salad.

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Avocado Tuna Spinach Salad

Avocado Tuna Spinach Salad
Credit: Greg DuPree
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Avocado adds creaminess while sunflower seeds provide texture and crunch in this easy tuna-spinach salad.

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Tuna Salad with Egg

Tuna Salad with Egg
Credit: Photography / Jennifer Causey, Styling / Ali Ramee / Audrey Davis
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This simple tuna salad with egg has a clean and balanced flavor. The capers and lemon bring acidity to help everything come together and chopped arugula adds a peppery kick. Enjoy it with greens or on a slice of your favorite whole-grain bread.

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    1 of 17 Cucumber Sandwich
    2 of 17 Southwest Chopped Salad with Tomatillo Dressing
    3 of 17 Sesame Kohlrabi & Chicken Salad
    4 of 17 Chile-Garlic Salmon Bento Box with Avocado
    5 of 17 Winter Greens Bowl
    6 of 17 Salmon Rice Bowl
    7 of 17 Chicken-Quinoa Bowl with Strawberries & Pecans
    8 of 17 Caprese Sandwich
    9 of 17 Easy Chicken Tinga Rice Bowls
    10 of 17 Orange-Mint Freekeh Salad with Lima Beans
    11 of 17 Caprese Pasta Salad
    12 of 17 Chopped Salad with Chicken & Creamy Chipotle Dressing
    13 of 17 Lemony Shrimp, Kale & Potato Salad
    14 of 17 Andouille, Sweet Potato & Broccoli Salad with Creole Mustard Dressing
    15 of 17 Waldorf Salad with Chicken & Rutabaga
    16 of 17 Avocado Tuna Spinach Salad
    17 of 17 Tuna Salad with Egg

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